'American Idol's' Kree Harrison: 'I Hope I Can Stay Another Week'

Kree Harrison’s hometown trip might be the saddest in American Idol history. Both of the 22-year-old’s parents died while she was still in her teens -- her father in a place crash. Talk about overcoming tragedy. But as is Kree Harrison’s nature, she’s someone who perseveres, as she certainly did on top 3 night. She talked to reporters after the show…

On her Texas-sized homecoming…

It’s safe to say Kree Harrison didn’t know what to expect. “I thought my family and friends were gonna show up and give me a party, but there was like thousands of people chanting,” she said. “More than anything, it was humbling -- to think you have to go back and make these fans proud of you. This is not just something that's yours this is something you have to give back.”

“That's life. I'm no stranger to it,” said Harrison, adding of her video segment, “The sweet was definitely after the bitter.” As for the house where she was filmed with her sister, Harrison’s grandfather built it. “It's special for so many reasons, not the least of which this is the last place we were with our parents,” she said, promising to “rebuild one day.”

“They killed it!” said Harrison, the ultimate cheerleader. “Angie, she's flawless and that Elton John song is one of my favorite songs. Then she did, ‘Try’ – like, ‘Hello, rock star! I've arrived.’ Candy -- can we just talk about that performance? She killed it. We all looked at each other at the end of the night and were like, ‘We did it, whatever happens.'”

On what happens next…

“We're exhausted -- drained more than anything --- but I couldn't imagine doing anything else right now. It's pretty incredible and I just hope that I can stay another week.”